Do you view Veterans benefits as welfare or as the nation's contract with an all

1. 60

   Xenonlitposted 11 years ago

   Do you view Veterans benefits as welfare or as the nation's contract with an all volunteer force?
   
   Some of the fake grassroots movements are trying to define veterans benefits as "welfare". This would allow looting of funds that are for keeping promises made to our all-volunteer military.

   replyreport
2. 56

   geordmcposted 11 years ago

   NO!!! This is NOT welfare, these are BENEFITS meant for those who serve our country by putting their lives on the line to protect us. Unfortunately, most of our veterans are treated like they have some contagious disease. At the last check 1/4 to 1/2 of our nations homeless are veterans.

   replyreport
3. 57

   feenixposted 11 years ago

   Well, way back in the day (1965) I got drafted into the U.S. Army. I did not volunteer. And I served in Vietnam where I nearly got killed on a number of occasions.
   
   So, when I got discharged from the Army in 1970 and attended college on the G.I. Bill, that damned sure wasn't welfare. I was getting paid for spending several of the best years of my life far away from home and for being exposed to a whole lot danger during much of that time.

   replyreport
4. 0

   Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

   I never served in the military. Veteran benefits are not welfare. They are vital to veterans, who have to give up promising careers, leave their families, risk or lose their lives in defense of our country.
   
   I was in the lottery era. My number was 268. I was not going to be drafted. You did not want me drafted, because with my eyesight you did not want me to have a gun and with my sense (or lack of) I would had been a hazard to my unit.
   
   My best friend joint the Air Force out of high school. He served in Thiland. He came home and for years was all right. One day, something snapped. Was it PTSD or something else? I do not know. He lived on his veteran benefits and was treated many times in the Veterans hospitals. He deserved it. He died last year.

   replyreport
5. 60

   Xenonlitposted 11 years ago

   Thanks for sharing your stories! I am a service connected veteran, USAF with consecutive overseas tours. The idea of cutting VA benefits has been pushed before and it will be pushed again, so that is why I asked.

   replyreport
6. 59

   tirelesstravelerposted 11 years ago

   Thanks for your service Xenonlit.  When I got married in 1976 my husband, a sailor (E4) made less than 5 hundred dollars a month.  He made more money working at Burger King in high school than he did the Navy as an electronics tech. Our servicemen and women deserve every bit of care this country can give them. I will keep an ear open for the VA cuts and give my reps and senators what for.

   replyreport
7. 60

   Kitk33posted 11 years ago

   No, VA Benefits are not welfare.  Welfare is getting something for nothing.  Someone has to pay for it.  Those benefits are supposed to be considered a trade for those who see it as a duty or honor to join the military and go to some far away land to kill people their "government" says are the enemy; many intend to be in the right.  These benefits should be the last thing to go and when that happens we should have a civilian defense force, made up of veterans, rather than a standing army.
   
   You do not ask us or our son's and daughters to go and fight your wars then, turn around and hang them out to dry; this is what has happened and is still happening today, and it only shows those of us who served that we are in fact expendable slaves. 
   
   It is a disgrace to consider such things and, though I have NO faith in "government" any longer, I would cut the true 'welfare' programs, to start with.  Give incentive to people to work rather than a "government" welfare check, paid for by the taxpayer's.
   This fans the fire in my anger.  I do not believe we are in the right in these wars we have fought over the last decade; however, I Do support bringing the troops home alive, safe and SOUND, so they can get on with their lives.  My views have changed much on politics etc, but I do not want to throw our fellow warriors by the wayside when they placed their lives in danger for some Politicians agenda; I would rather see the politician loose His/Her job, and see how they like it.
   
   I wonder if these SOB's suggesting such cuts, I am talking about the "Politicians", or have any other Police state BS agenda, runs for reelection/election, have no votes come in on either side.  So, imagine Obama and Romney, recieve NO votes; what would happen?  How would that one be called?
   
   Good question.
   
   Later,
   Kitk33
   formerly USMC

   replyreport